|
 A
very rare class of people can be classified as the true
devotes of language and literature and Hyderabad Sindh
born [16-12-1923] Assandas Jethanand Uttamchandani, more
populary known as "A J Uttam" is surely front runner for
this rare class. In his own words his love for Sindhi
language and literature have roots with influence of his
mother and out spoken nature of his father. His ability of
organising and memorising things has brought "Encyclopedia
of Sindhi literature" fame for him even during the school
days he was the person behind the formation of Hyderabad
student Union in the year 1941. Those were the days of
high tides for the waves of Independence and every corner
of country was supporting Mahatama Gandhi and Quit India
Movement.
Young Assandas, who has started writing short stories,
essays and even literature research articles and critic
view at the tender age of 18 years, participate in Quit
India movement on 9 August 1942 and was sent to prison for
one year. His college education started at D G National
college where he edited college magazine "Phuleli" during
1946-47 but as this was not sufficient to meet with
literary thrust this young have, so in the same year 1946
he established a group of progressive writers at Hyderabad
and started interacting with famous sindhi writers, poets
and artist like Prof. M U Malkani, Prof. Gehimal
Moolchandani, Tirth Basant, Kalyan Advani & Gobind
Malhi.One of his short story with anti-dowry background "Taraki-a
je raha te" (On the path of progress) proved mile stone of
his life as young beautiful girl Sugani Narwani become
attracted towards him and both got married on 14-11-1947,
with time she also got fame in same field of sindhi
literature for being known as the famous sindhi novelist
Sundari Uttamchandani.
Like the other millions of Sindhis he also forced to
migrate India, after the riots broke in Hyderabad and was
forced to complete his M A at Mumbai in 1949 and in the
same year started working at Bombay Secretariat but this
doesn't prove hurdle for his love and dedication towards
the Sindhi language & literature. He started a monthly "Naeen
Duniya" and was the Gen. Secretary and Vice President of
"Sindhi Sahit Mandal" which was treated as first premier
literary and cultural organization of Sindhis in India.
The mandal was not only encouraging upcoming sindhi
writers, Sindhi literary and cultural activities but
eventually was instrument for the Sindhi language
recognition movement in 1952 and as a result in 1957
Sindhi was recognised for Sahitya academy Awards &
preprograms on All India Radio [now known as Aakashwani].
He was also co-editor for weekly "Sindhu Dhara" from 1959
to 1967 and was the founder General Secretary of "Akhil
Bharat Sindhi Boli Ain Sahit Sabha" established in 1959.
He was also editor of Sindhi dailies "Sindhu Samachar"
[1973 - 1975] and "Sindhu Sansaar" [975 - 1978]. In the
year 1973 during World Writers Conference in Russia he not
only meet with other famous writers like Narayan Surve
[Marathi Peoples Poet], H. R. Bachchan, Bhisham Sahni, and
Bengali writer Subhash Mukherjee but was also amaze to see
the love, affection and respect Russian people have for
Mahatama Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Smt. Indira Gandhi.
During his well illustrated literary career, AJ Uttam has
wrote over 100 short stories, many of which are included
in his two books "Kashmkas" and "Hoo Jehan hi Manu" along
with 15 books of essays. His most famous book is Sindhi
Kahani Nataku Ain Tankida on the topic of historical &
critical evaluation of stories, drama and criticism. Some
of his books are prescribed in University syllabus. He
died on 03-01-2005. |